Public Library Association (PLA)

Barbara Macikas announces retirement as PLA executive director

CHICAGO -- Barbara Macikas, executive director of the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced her retirement effective Aug. 31, 2020. 

Public Library Association launches 2021 health insurance enrollment project

CHICAGO — Through the third cycle of its health insurance enrollment and education initiative, Libraries Connecting You to Coverage, the Public Library Association (PLA) is offering a series of mini-grants of up to $2,000 to support up to 30 U.S.

ABC News places spotlight on libraries’ response to COVID-19

CHICAGO- Today Public Library Association (PLA) President Ramiro Salazar appeared as a guest on "Pandemic: What You Need to Know," a new ABC Network program temporarily replacing the third hour of Good Morning America.

‘Moving Forward: Key Findings from New Libraries’ COVID-19 Response Survey’ webinar on June 12 to explore results, trends, and reopening practices

CHICAGO — The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), the Public Library Association (PLA) and the ALA Chapter Relations and Public Policy & Advocacy offices, with support from United for Libraries, will present the free webinar “Moving Forward: Key Findings from New Libraries' COVID-19 Response Survey” on Friday, June 12, 1-2 p.m. Central. Register at www.ala.org/united/survey.

Survey: Libraries examine phased building re-opening, prepare summer programs

CHICAGO—Most years, June marks a shift for students from classroom learning and research to summer vacations, internships, and packed public libraries for reading and learning programs. This year is different, and libraries are rising to the challenge.

Public Library Association, National Network of Libraries of Medicine continue partnership with new digital literacy, citizen science tools

CHICAGO -- The Public Library Association (PLA), National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) and the All of Us Research Program (All of Us) are working together to support health literacy by promoting the importance of digital literacy in health and wellness.

PLA’s COVID-19 webinar series highlights need for sharing, new ideas

CHICAGO -- The Public Library Association (PLA) recently wrapped up its free webinar series, Public Libraries Respond to COVID-19, which included six webinars that took place between March 26 and April 23, 2020. The webinars covered topics of immediate need to the field, such as addressing the digital divide, managing anxiety, and responding to community needs through innovative solutions and services. More than 9,000 public library professionals registered for the series.

ACRL, ARL, ODLOS, and PLA announce joint cultural competencies task force

CHICAGO - The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the American Library Association’s Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS), and the Public Library Association (PLA) announce the formation of the Building Cultural Proficiencies for Racial Equity Framework Task Force. 

The task force is charged to create a framework for cultural proficiencies in racial equity that can be used in public and academic libraries through: